Damage to the peripheral nerves leads to neuropathy. It is often associated with pain and numbness in arms and legs and even in other parts of the body also.

Peripheral neuropathy diagnosis involves: (1) blood test to determine the underlying causes, (2) imaging tests such as X-ray, CT-scan and MRI scan to look for sources causing pressure on nerves and (3) nerve function tests like electromyography, nerve conduction velocity test and nerve biopsy.

Signs of neuropathy depend upon the type of nerve affected. These may be:
(1) Treating symptoms and underlying causes of neuropathy
(2) Surgical treatments of the sources that are compressing or covering nerves
(3) Controlling blood sugar in case of diabetic neuropathy

Depending upon the causes peripheral neuropathy are of two types: (1) mononeuropathy: neuropathy with damage to a single nerve, e.g., carpel tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsy and radial nerve palsy and (2) polyneuropathy: malfunctioning of multiple nerves of the body at the same time, e.g., diabetic neuropathy and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Vitamin B-complex are useful in treatment of peripheral neuropathy, whereas Vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12 are essential for maintaining healthy nerves.